E-Math Trainings and Collaboratives

     The E-Math Grant is designed to address three statewide needs:  Increasing student's math achievement, improving classroom access to modern learning technologies, and enhancing educator's understanding of the types of "scientifically based" research and evaluation. Teachers involved in the grant are responsible for attending and being involved in communities of learning. These collaboratives allow teachers to share lessons and classroom ideas to improve mathematics learning.

     The school where I am currently employed is participating in its fourth year in the Title II, D E-Math grant.  This grant focuses on improving 3^rd through 5^th grade mathematics achievement scores through the effective use of technology.  Funds received through this grant were used to purchase desktop computers for 3^rd and 4^th grade classrooms, laptops for the 5^th grade math classroom, ActivBoards, ELMO document cameras, LCD projectors, calculators, and digital cameras. 

As part of the study 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grade math classes participates in the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), Balanced Assessment of Mathematics (BAMs), and CRCT.

     Trainings have included collaboratives, training on the types of technology purchased, website design, and attending professional conferences to explore other technologies that are available to schools and to learn better teaching strategies to incorporate these technologies.